DOE: Chu's SUV is for security

After a long morning of testifying at Rep. Darrell Issa’s House oversight committee, Steven Chu hopped in a black SUV for the quick ride back down Independence Avenue to the Energy Department.

And Issa got in his final shot against the Energy secretary.

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The California Republican took to Twitter to post a picture of Chu getting in the SUV writing: “@Energy Secretary Chu: not practicing what he preaches leaving today's #energy hearing. PICTURE: http://yfrog.com/mgm8zgvj #hypocrisy”

DOE spokesman Damien LaVera said the charge and picture is nonsense.

"Just like they did in their three-hour hearing, congressional critics are distorting the facts to drive a false and misleading agenda,” LaVera said in an email. “This photo shows the secretary getting into a single, flex fuel vehicle which — as the chairman knows — is used for security."

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 6:43 p.m. on March 20, 2012.